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Biosimilar sales hurt Merck's bottom line

The sales of this biologic dropped 25% after a less expensive version of it was introduced in Europe.

Once companies, including Hospira and Celltrion Healthcare began selling a biosimilar of the Merck arthritis treatment Remicade in Europe, sales plummeted, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Sales of the drug dropped 25 percent to $455 million for the quarter, Merck told the media outlet.

"Merck officials said Tuesday the company has had success convincing European health systems and doctors to keep existing Remicade patients on the drug," the Wall Street Journal wrote. "But new patients are being steered to the biosimilars, Merck said."

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